Jay Slater GoFundMe fundraiser hits £60k just hours after teen’s devastated mum pleads for more cash after body found
THE GoFundMe page raising money for the family of British teenager Jay Slater has hit a huge benchmark of £60,000.
It comes as Jay’s devastated mum Debbie Duncan asked people to continue donating so she can give her son “the send-off he deserves”.
Debbie, 55, posted to the fundraising page today to thank well-wishers for their kindness.
In an outpouring of support, the page has now raised over £60,700.
Jay’s mum said she is “overwhelmed” by the support she has received since cops found her son on Monday.
The devastated mum wept as authorities this week confirmed they had found the teenager’s body in a mountainous region.
The apprentice bricklayer first disappeared on the holiday island on June 17, sparking a mammoth rescue effort.
The Sun understands family members have since jetted to Tenerife to be by Debbie’s side as she waits for Jay’s body to be repatriated.
She paid tribute to him on Wednesday with a heartfelt note that reads: “To my beautiful boy. I’m so sorry we never found you.
“I miss you so much. You will be forever young and forever missed. Love you so much.”
Debbie shared an update today to the GoFundMe page that read: “Hello everyone, thank you for all of your kindness, support and condolences in light of the tragic news that Jay’s body has been found.
“We are overwhelmed with grief and are so grateful for your support.
“We are working with agencies to arrange Jay’s repatriation to the UK and the remaining funds, along with any future donations will be used to help with this if needed and to pay for Jay’s funeral costs back home.
“We want to give our boy the send-off he deserves so please do continue to share and support our fundraiser however you can.”
She added: “We would like to thank LBT Global for their support during this impossible time.
“The wonderful team from The Netherlands, Signi Zoekhondon, have remained in Spain all week and have continued to support us since Jay was found.
“They are due to fly home in the coming days and we are so appreciative of their dedication and support.”
Jay is believed to have accidentally fallen to his death while attempting to trek back to his hotel through a dangerous ravine near the village of Masca in northern Tenerife.
He had left a rave the night before with two men to stay at their Airbnb near where he was last seen.
Debbie, Warren and Zak on Tuesday evening left emotional floral tributes in the area where Jay, 19, is thought to have fallen.
A teddy bear with England flags and a bracelet with the letter J were also placed on a rocky track where Jay was last known to be.
Timeline of Jay Slater's disappearance
The grim discovery of a body came after weeks of agony for Jay’s friends and family. Here is how events unfolded:
June 16: Jay and his friends party on the last day of the NRG music festival at Papagayo nightclub in Playa de la Americas, Tenerife.
June 17th:
- 3-6am: Jay leaves with Ayub Qassim and another man for a £40-a-night Airbnb 23 miles away in the village of Masca.
- 7.30am: Jay shares a photo on Snapchat standing at the doorway of the Airbnb.
- 8.50am: He calls pal Lucy Mae Law and says he is “lost in the middle of nowhere” with no water, a cut to his leg and one per cent on his phone.
June 18: Pals search the area but no sign of Jay. Local cops and mountain rescue teams start the official search. Jay’s mother Debbie Duncan flies to Tenerife.
June 19 – 20: Spanish police deploy drones, dogs and a helicopter, but find no trace. Search moves to Los Cristianos amid possible sighting, but it is ruled out and they return to Rural de Teno, near Masca.
June 21: Lancashire Police offer support but it is declined.
June 22: Mum Debbie issues an appeal to Jay saying: “We just need you home.”
June 24: Claims of Jay sighting in Santiago del Teide — near where he disappeared — and family believe a grainy CCTV image could be of him.
June 25: Debbie issues a plea for Jay to come home as more friends fly out and TV investigator Mark Williams-Thomas joins the search.
June 29: Cops rule Mr Qassim, and another man at Airbnb, out of investigation.
June 30: Spanish cops officially suspend hunt but say probe “remains open”. His family continue to search.
July 15: A body is found by a helicopter search team close to where his phone last pinged. His possessions are discovered next to human remains. Spanish cops say it points to an “accidental fall”.
July 17: Tenerife authorities confirm the body found in the mountainous area of the island is Jay’s.